I.I.S.S. Vivante-Pitagora

1. Profile of school:

1.1 Main characteristics

The business technical Institute "Cesare Vivante" was founded in 1886 as the “Royal Advanced School of Commerce”, under the sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce of Bari (Italy) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry; it was the first trade and commerce Institute in Apulia region (in the South East of Italy). It was joined with the Institute “Pitagora” in the 2006/2007 school year, (“Pitagora” has always been an Institute with an important tradition of building techniques studies) and became the Institute “Vivante-Pitagora”. It is a mixed school with approximately 753 (439 + 314) pupils and is funded by the state. There are 41 (25+16) classes including afternoon courses for adult pupils, and 108 teaching staff (68+40). There are also 9 administrative assistants, 8 technical assistants, and 11 school support staff.

1.2 Language teaching in the schools

In the first two years the school subjects are: Italian, English, French or German, Maths, Chemistry, Natural Science, Law, Business Studies, Word Processing, Physical Education and Religious Education. Next, pupils can choose which school course to attend among: the I.G.E.A course or the MERCURIO course, or the ITER course (from the first school year). These school course options are described as follows:

I.G.E.A. (Law and Business Studies)

In the last three years of their schooling, pupils develop skills in business matters and in technical language competence. They study English, and French or German, as well as Maths, History, Law, Business Studies, Physical Education and Religious Education.

MERCURIO (Computer Science and Maths)

In the last three years, this school course offers a larger use of computer labs as it aims at specialising in accountancy and business management. Subjects studied are Italian, English, History, Maths, Law, Business Studies, Informatics, Physical Education and Religious Education.

I.T.E.R. (Tourism business and foreign languages)

The ITER school courses last five years, (pupils aged from 14 to 18); pupils will be able to work as tourist agents or to be employed in other fields connected with tourism development and the trading of tourism services.It focuses on tourism business and foreign languages (English, French and German); other subjects are Law, Art, History and Geography, Maths, Physical Education and Religious Education.